13 inventive ways that you can use the microwave

Sure the microwave can be used for cooking and reheating food, but what else can it be used for? Check out these 13 inventive ways you can use the microwave compiled by Readers Digest.

2 of 27

Remove stamps from envelopes

Did you make a mistake on an envelope you were planning on mailing, and need to start over? If you've already placed a stamp on the envelope, you can use the microwave to remove it for use on another envelope.

3 of 27

To remove the stamp, place a small drop of water on it, then put it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. Remove the envelope from the microwave, and the stamp should easily peel off.

4 of 27

Quickly peel garlic

Do you find peeling garlic to be a tricky task? A microwave can help you easily remove the skin from the clove.

PHOTO: Pixabay: condesign

5 of 27

Put the garlic bulb in the microwave for 15 seconds and the skin will easily be peeled off. There is water in the garlic which steams during the microwaving process, and it helps to break down the bond between the clove and the skin.

PHOTO: PDPics

6 of 27

Sterilize soil for potted plans

When you buy bagged soils they come pre-sterilized, but when you open the bag the soil is then immediately exposed to pathogens in the home or garden which could kill your flowers.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: msscacti

7 of 27

If you want to kill the bacteria that could be potentially harmful to your plants, fill a small container with a thin layer of soil, and then microwave for 60 seconds per pound of soil.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Arnulf zu Linden

8 of 27

Disinfect your sponges

Did you know that according to the USDA one of the most dangerous sources of disease-causing bacteria in your house can be found in your dish sponge?

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Amada44

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9 of 27

Put your damp dish sponge in the microwave for 60 seconds and it will help destroy 99.9% of germs and roughly 99.8% of E.coli and salmonella.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Pieria

10 of 27

Make your own homemade heating pad

If you have an ache or pain that would benefit from a heating pad you can make your own in the microwave with materials you most likely already have around your home!

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Takeaway

11 of 27

Fill the foot of an old, clean tube sock with rice and sew or knot the top of the sock closed. Next microwave the tied sock for 30 second increments until the rice reaches your desired temperature.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Arma

12 of 27

Rescue bread that has gone stale

If you have some bread around the house that has gone stale you can use the microwave to bring it back to life.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Glane23

13 of 27

Wrap the bread in a moist paper towel and put it in the microwave for 20-second increments which will draw the moisture from the paper towel into the bread to make it taste fresh again.

PHOTO: Freestockphotos.biz

14 of 27

Make it easier to juice your fruit

Nothing is better than freshly squeeze juice from citrus but it can be difficult to get all the juice out of the lemon, lime, or orange and the microwave can help you with this.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: ChaosNil

15 of 27

Before you juice the citrus, place it in the microwave (uncut) for ten seconds. The microwave will help loosen the fibers inside the fruit and you will have a much easier time juicing.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: comingstobrazil

16 of 27

Quickly toast nuts

Instead of toasting nuts in the oven, you can do it much quicker in the microwave using a microwave-safe bowl.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Kirsten Loza

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17 of 27

Place the nuts in the bowl and toss them with a small amount of oil and any other seasonings you like. Microwave the nuts in 60-second increments and stir after each minute. Depending on the size of the nuts, your cooking time can vary, but typically it will take about five minutes to complete.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Melchoir

18 of 27

Loosen up brown sugar

Have you ever gone to use brown sugar and it's clumpy, or even worse hard as a rock? Putting it in the microwave can help to de-clump the brown sugar and make it usable again.

PHOTO: Freepik.com

19 of 27

Take a moist paper towel and place it in the sugar bag and place everything in the microwave for 25 seconds. The moisture in the paper towel will transfer to the sugar and make it much easier to work with in your cooking.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Donovan Govan

20 of 27

Clean itself

If you're microwave has gotten dirty you can use vinegar to help it clean itself.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: 21TonGiant

21 of 27

Place the vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it for two minutes. The liquid will create steam which will help break down the food stuck to the interior of the microwave which you can then easily wipe away.

PHOTO: Freepik.com

22 of 27

Speed up the bread making process

If you've ever decided at the last minute you'd like homemade bread, the microwave can speed up the bread making process!

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: beganbaking.net

23 of 27

Place an 8-ounce cup of water in the back of the microwave and put the dough in a microwave-safe bowl in the center of the microwave. Heat the bread and water for three minutes on your microwaves lowest power setting. Next let the bread sit in the microwave for three minutes, then heat it again for three minutes, then let sit for six minutes. At the end of the last six minutes the dough will have doubled in size and will be ready for baking!

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: beganbaking.net

24 of 27

Smooth crystallized honey

If you have a glass jar of honey that has transformed from it's smooth consistency to being crystallized, you can heat it in the microwave to return it to it's original form.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: nanamin2003

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25 of 27

Remove the lid from the jar and place it in the microwave and heat for 30 to 40 seconds until it returns to it's original texture. It should be noted that this is only possible with glass jars, and not the plastic honey containers.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Siona Karen

26 of 27

Peel vegetable skin faster

If you find peeling hard squashes and root vegetables difficult, you can make the task easier by placing them in the microwave first!

PHOTO: Pixabay: PublicDomainPictures

27 of 27

Put the vegetables in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes on a low power setting and the skin will be much easier to peel or cut. Be careful when removing the vegetable from the microwave that you do not burn your fingers.

Sure the microwave can be used for cooking and reheating food, but what else can it be used for? Check out these 13 inventive ways you can use the microwave compiled by Readers Digest.

Remove stamps from envelopes

Did you make a mistake on an envelope you were planning on mailing, and need to start over? If you've already placed a stamp on the envelope, you can use the microwave to remove it for use on another envelope.

To remove the stamp, place a small drop of water on it, then put it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. Remove the envelope from the microwave, and the stamp should easily peel off.

Quickly peel garlic

Do you find peeling garlic to be a tricky task? A microwave can help you easily remove the skin from the clove.

PHOTO: Pixabay: condesign

Put the garlic bulb in the microwave for 15 seconds and the skin will easily be peeled off. There is water in the garlic which steams during the microwaving process, and it helps to break down the bond between the clove and the skin.

PHOTO: PDPics

Sterilize soil for potted plans

When you buy bagged soils they come pre-sterilized, but when you open the bag the soil is then immediately exposed to pathogens in the home or garden which could kill your flowers.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: msscacti

If you want to kill the bacteria that could be potentially harmful to your plants, fill a small container with a thin layer of soil, and then microwave for 60 seconds per pound of soil.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Arnulf zu Linden

Disinfect your sponges

Did you know that according to the USDA one of the most dangerous sources of disease-causing bacteria in your house can be found in your dish sponge?

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Amada44

Put your damp dish sponge in the microwave for 60 seconds and it will help destroy 99.9% of germs and roughly 99.8% of E.coli and salmonella.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Pieria

Make your own homemade heating pad

If you have an ache or pain that would benefit from a heating pad you can make your own in the microwave with materials you most likely already have around your home!

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Takeaway

Fill the foot of an old, clean tube sock with rice and sew or knot the top of the sock closed. Next microwave the tied sock for 30 second increments until the rice reaches your desired temperature.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Arma

Rescue bread that has gone stale

If you have some bread around the house that has gone stale you can use the microwave to bring it back to life.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Glane23

Wrap the bread in a moist paper towel and put it in the microwave for 20-second increments which will draw the moisture from the paper towel into the bread to make it taste fresh again.

PHOTO: Freestockphotos.biz

Make it easier to juice your fruit

Nothing is better than freshly squeeze juice from citrus but it can be difficult to get all the juice out of the lemon, lime, or orange and the microwave can help you with this.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: ChaosNil

Before you juice the citrus, place it in the microwave (uncut) for ten seconds. The microwave will help loosen the fibers inside the fruit and you will have a much easier time juicing.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: comingstobrazil

Quickly toast nuts

Instead of toasting nuts in the oven, you can do it much quicker in the microwave using a microwave-safe bowl.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Kirsten Loza

Place the nuts in the bowl and toss them with a small amount of oil and any other seasonings you like. Microwave the nuts in 60-second increments and stir after each minute. Depending on the size of the nuts, your cooking time can vary, but typically it will take about five minutes to complete.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Melchoir

Loosen up brown sugar

Have you ever gone to use brown sugar and it's clumpy, or even worse hard as a rock? Putting it in the microwave can help to de-clump the brown sugar and make it usable again.

PHOTO: Freepik.com

Take a moist paper towel and place it in the sugar bag and place everything in the microwave for 25 seconds. The moisture in the paper towel will transfer to the sugar and make it much easier to work with in your cooking.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Donovan Govan

Clean itself

If you're microwave has gotten dirty you can use vinegar to help it clean itself.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: 21TonGiant

Place the vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it for two minutes. The liquid will create steam which will help break down the food stuck to the interior of the microwave which you can then easily wipe away.

PHOTO: Freepik.com

Speed up the bread making process

If you've ever decided at the last minute you'd like homemade bread, the microwave can speed up the bread making process!

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: beganbaking.net

Place an 8-ounce cup of water in the back of the microwave and put the dough in a microwave-safe bowl in the center of the microwave. Heat the bread and water for three minutes on your microwaves lowest power setting. Next let the bread sit in the microwave for three minutes, then heat it again for three minutes, then let sit for six minutes. At the end of the last six minutes the dough will have doubled in size and will be ready for baking!

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: beganbaking.net

Smooth crystallized honey

If you have a glass jar of honey that has transformed from it's smooth consistency to being crystallized, you can heat it in the microwave to return it to it's original form.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: nanamin2003

Remove the lid from the jar and place it in the microwave and heat for 30 to 40 seconds until it returns to it's original texture. It should be noted that this is only possible with glass jars, and not the plastic honey containers.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Siona Karen

Peel vegetable skin faster

If you find peeling hard squashes and root vegetables difficult, you can make the task easier by placing them in the microwave first!

PHOTO: Pixabay: PublicDomainPictures

Put the vegetables in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes on a low power setting and the skin will be much easier to peel or cut. Be careful when removing the vegetable from the microwave that you do not burn your fingers.

Sure the microwave can be used for cooking and reheating food, but what else can it be used for? Check out these 13 inventive ways you can use the microwave compiled by Readers Digest.

Remove stamps from envelopes

Did you make a mistake on an envelope you were planning on mailing, and need to start over? If you've already placed a stamp on the envelope, you can use the microwave to remove it for use on another envelope.

To remove the stamp, place a small drop of water on it, then put it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. Remove the envelope from the microwave, and the stamp should easily peel off.

Quickly peel garlic

Do you find peeling garlic to be a tricky task? A microwave can help you easily remove the skin from the clove.

PHOTO: Pixabay: condesign

Put the garlic bulb in the microwave for 15 seconds and the skin will easily be peeled off. There is water in the garlic which steams during the microwaving process, and it helps to break down the bond between the clove and the skin.

PHOTO: PDPics

Sterilize soil for potted plans

When you buy bagged soils they come pre-sterilized, but when you open the bag the soil is then immediately exposed to pathogens in the home or garden which could kill your flowers.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: msscacti

If you want to kill the bacteria that could be potentially harmful to your plants, fill a small container with a thin layer of soil, and then microwave for 60 seconds per pound of soil.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Arnulf zu Linden

Disinfect your sponges

Did you know that according to the USDA one of the most dangerous sources of disease-causing bacteria in your house can be found in your dish sponge?

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Amada44

Put your damp dish sponge in the microwave for 60 seconds and it will help destroy 99.9% of germs and roughly 99.8% of E.coli and salmonella.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Pieria

Make your own homemade heating pad

If you have an ache or pain that would benefit from a heating pad you can make your own in the microwave with materials you most likely already have around your home!

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Takeaway

Fill the foot of an old, clean tube sock with rice and sew or knot the top of the sock closed. Next microwave the tied sock for 30 second increments until the rice reaches your desired temperature.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Arma

Rescue bread that has gone stale

If you have some bread around the house that has gone stale you can use the microwave to bring it back to life.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Glane23

Wrap the bread in a moist paper towel and put it in the microwave for 20-second increments which will draw the moisture from the paper towel into the bread to make it taste fresh again.

PHOTO: Freestockphotos.biz

Make it easier to juice your fruit

Nothing is better than freshly squeeze juice from citrus but it can be difficult to get all the juice out of the lemon, lime, or orange and the microwave can help you with this.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: ChaosNil

Before you juice the citrus, place it in the microwave (uncut) for ten seconds. The microwave will help loosen the fibers inside the fruit and you will have a much easier time juicing.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: comingstobrazil

Quickly toast nuts

Instead of toasting nuts in the oven, you can do it much quicker in the microwave using a microwave-safe bowl.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Kirsten Loza

Place the nuts in the bowl and toss them with a small amount of oil and any other seasonings you like. Microwave the nuts in 60-second increments and stir after each minute. Depending on the size of the nuts, your cooking time can vary, but typically it will take about five minutes to complete.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Melchoir

Loosen up brown sugar

Have you ever gone to use brown sugar and it's clumpy, or even worse hard as a rock? Putting it in the microwave can help to de-clump the brown sugar and make it usable again.

PHOTO: Freepik.com

Take a moist paper towel and place it in the sugar bag and place everything in the microwave for 25 seconds. The moisture in the paper towel will transfer to the sugar and make it much easier to work with in your cooking.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Donovan Govan

Clean itself

If you're microwave has gotten dirty you can use vinegar to help it clean itself.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: 21TonGiant

Place the vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it for two minutes. The liquid will create steam which will help break down the food stuck to the interior of the microwave which you can then easily wipe away.

PHOTO: Freepik.com

Speed up the bread making process

If you've ever decided at the last minute you'd like homemade bread, the microwave can speed up the bread making process!

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: beganbaking.net

Place an 8-ounce cup of water in the back of the microwave and put the dough in a microwave-safe bowl in the center of the microwave. Heat the bread and water for three minutes on your microwaves lowest power setting. Next let the bread sit in the microwave for three minutes, then heat it again for three minutes, then let sit for six minutes. At the end of the last six minutes the dough will have doubled in size and will be ready for baking!

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: beganbaking.net

Smooth crystallized honey

If you have a glass jar of honey that has transformed from it's smooth consistency to being crystallized, you can heat it in the microwave to return it to it's original form.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: nanamin2003

Remove the lid from the jar and place it in the microwave and heat for 30 to 40 seconds until it returns to it's original texture. It should be noted that this is only possible with glass jars, and not the plastic honey containers.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Siona Karen

Peel vegetable skin faster

If you find peeling hard squashes and root vegetables difficult, you can make the task easier by placing them in the microwave first!

PHOTO: Pixabay: PublicDomainPictures

Put the vegetables in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes on a low power setting and the skin will be much easier to peel or cut. Be careful when removing the vegetable from the microwave that you do not burn your fingers.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: llez

13 inventive ways that you can use the microwave

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Updated: 10:15 AM MST Jan 4, 2017

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Sure the microwave can be used for cooking and reheating food, but what else can it be used for? Check out these 13 inventive ways you can use the microwave compiled by Readers Digest.